Move-Out Cleaning: What Toronto Landlords Actually Check
Under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, landlords may deduct from the last month's rent or security deposit if the unit is left in worse condition than when it was rented, beyond normal wear and tear. A thorough move-out clean prevents deductions and landlord disputes. Here's what Toronto landlords typically check most closely.
What Landlords Focus On
Kitchen
- Oven interior: This is the most commonly cited cleaning deficiency in Toronto move-outs. Baked-on carbon and grease residue inside the oven that hasn't been cleaned in years requires a full oven clean, not just a spray. Property managers open the oven as a standard check.
- Fridge interior: All shelves, drawers, and door bins clean; no food left behind
- Range hood and filter: Grease on the range hood filter and housing is frequently flagged
- Cabinets: Inside and outside. Food residue inside cabinets is a common deduction point.
- Appliances exterior: Microwave interior especially — food splatter is common and very visible
Bathrooms
- Toilet: Bowl staining, mineral rings, and residue under the rim are almost always checked
- Shower and tub: Soap scum, mould, and mineral deposits on tile, grout, and fixtures
- Grout: Dark or mouldy grout in the shower is a frequent deduction
- Exhaust fan: Dusty or clogged fans are often noted but rarely deducted unless extremely neglected
Walls, Doors, and Baseboards
- Marks and scuffs on walls: Normal wear is expected; heavy scuffing, marks, and stains are not. Magic Eraser removes most wall marks from painted surfaces.
- Baseboards: Dusty or visibly dirty baseboards are commonly flagged
- Door frames and around door handles: These accumulate fingerprint grime and are often dirty
Windows and Tracks
- Interior windows should be clean; heavy grime on window glass is sometimes deducted
- Window sills and tracks accumulate significant debris; wipe clean
Floors
- Hardwood: clean of grime, ideally with a mopped finish. Stains or pet damage to hardwood floors can lead to significant deductions.
- Carpet: should be clean, ideally professionally cleaned if heavily used. Some landlords require documentation of professional cleaning for carpeted units.
- Tile: clean grout, no residue
What Is "Normal Wear and Tear"
Under Ontario law, landlords cannot deduct for normal wear and tear. This includes minor scuffs on walls, small nail holes from pictures, carpet wear in traffic areas, and fading paint. They CAN deduct for pet damage, large stains, broken fixtures, grease buildup, and significant marks on walls that go beyond normal use.
The Safest Approach
Book a professional move-out clean — Maidless offers these throughout Toronto. A professional clean gives you documentation and consistent results. Keep photos before and after. Book at maidless.ca.